Storing and reclaiming apparatus.



F.. L.. STUART.

STORING AND. RECLAIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 22, 1917.

Patented Aug. 13,1918.

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F. L. STUART.

I STORING AND RECLAIMING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22.1917. 1 275 ,3 1 9 Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

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F. L. STUART.

STORING AND RECLAIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1911.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

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APPLICATION FILED 05c. 22. I917.

STORING AND RECLAIMING APPARATUS.

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F L. STUART.

STORING AND RECLAIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICA ON FILED DEC. 22, 19!?- F. L. STUART.

STORING AND RECLAIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1917.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 6.

I I 4 W1 UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS LEE STUART, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TOINTERNATIONAL CONVEYOR CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STORING AND RECLAIMING- APPARATUS.

Application filed December 22, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS LEE STUART, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of WVashington, District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Storing and ReclaimingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to a storing and reclaiming apparatus,and more particularly to an apparatus of this type for receivingmaterials from a main source of supply, conveying the same to storage,and then reclaiming and reloading the same.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusconstructed of a plurality of units which may be readily brought intoposition and assembled for use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide each unitconveyer with means for driving the same, and also with means for movingthe unit from place to place for use as desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a transfer tableadapted to receive the material to be handled from a main conveyingmeans, and cooperating with the unit conveyers whereby the material maybe readily transferred thereto.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a stacker ortrimmer which is complete and portable from place to place to cooperatewith any desired source of supply.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a systememploying the various apparatuses before referred to whereby materialmay be quickly and easily received from a main source of supply, such asa track hopper, and conveyed tostorage devices from which it may bereclaimed and reloaded at will.

The foregoing and other objects, together with their attendantadvantages, will be apparent from the accompanying specification, anddrawings forming a part thereof, throughout the several views of whichlike characters of reference have been used to indicate like parts. Inthe drawings, which are largely diagrammatic, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my improved apparatus showing the same in position for receivingmaterial from a track hopper, and deliver- Specification of LettersPatent.

Serial No. 208,355.

ing the same to a suitable stacker and forming storage piles from whichthe material is subsequently reclaimed.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrannnatic elevation looking in the direction of thearrow a fromthe line AB of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a unit conveyer.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a transfer table employing a shuttle conveyerdelivering in either direction to unit sectional conveyers on eitherside of a transfer pit.

Fig. 6 is an end View of the transfer table carrying a reclaimer and aplurality of sec? tional unit conveyers.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the discharging end of a reclaimingapparatus in 006perative relation to a sectional unit conveyer.

Fig. 8 is a modified form of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a viewvsimilar to Fig. 6 showing a stacker in place of thereclaimer.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a self-contained stacking device.

Fig. 11.is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view and associated mechanism.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 12.

In handling material in bulk, such as coal, ore, and the like, it isnecessary in order to expedite the loading of the same that both a mainand secondary source of supply be provided. In systemswith two sourcesof supply, it is customary to replenish the secondary source of supplyfrom the main source, and then subsequently reclaim and reload from thesecondary source. Belt conveyers, commonly employed for this purpose,frequently have a length of several hundred feet, so that the cost ofinstallation and upkeep is an item of considerable importance.Furthermore, where continu ous belt conveyers are employed it isnecessary to provide troughing and supporting rollers for the upper andlower run of the belt, respectively, so that the entire conveyer whenonce installed is more or less fixed. It is the object of this presentinvention to provide sectional or unit conveyers which Patented Aug. 13,1918.

of a track hopper may be kept on hand-in any desire d number thereceiving hopper 5 feeding the main conveying means, here shown as abelt con- I veyer 6. The track hoppers and associated mechanism may be.placed, as is customary justable with the tripper.

in this art, in pits 7 whereby the cars C are Q easily moved todischarging position over the same; v For storing the material receivedfrom the track hoppers, the main conveyer 6 has a looped portion 8passing around the trippen-'9 adjustable on the track 10 by means of amotor or the like 11. The tripper may be of the type disclosed in myPatent No.

1,207 ,237, of December 5, 1916. The frame work of the tripper isconnected at '12 to a transfer table T on' the tracks 10 and ad-v Ifdesired, the transfer tablemay also be provided with a source of power14 so that the same may be independently moved to the desired position.The upper end of the tripper 9 discharges into a hopper 15 havingoppositely extending outlets 16 for delivering material to the shuttleconveyer 17 mounted in the frame 18, and having suitable drivingmechanism 19. The shuttle conveyer is adjustable on the frame 20 of thetransfer table by means of the motor 21, and is providedwith discharges22 adapted to be brought into operation in accordance with the directionof travel of the shuttle conveyer. The discharges 22 are disposed incooperative relation to the upper run of the unit conveyer belts 24mounted on the frames 25 which are self-movable by the driving mechanism26.- An operating means 27 for the unit conveyers makes the sameself-contained so that each unit may be used independently of any otherunit, or may be used in conjunction therewith. The unit conveyerspreferably have their ends 28 inclined and provided with hoppers 29whereby an independent unit conveyer may be moved to cooperatingposition therewith. The entire transfer table T is preferably disposedin a pit 30 so that the upper surface of the transfer table is flushwith the surface of the adjoining ground. By reason of this constructionthe unit conveyers 24 may be readily moved onto the transfer table andprojected therefrom so as to receive material from the discharges 22.The transfer table may be constructed so that any number of unitconveyers may be simultaneously. carried thereon. The unit conveyers asthey receive material from the shuttle conveyer 17 discharge the sameonto the tripper 31, constructed in a manner similarto the tripper 9 anddischarging to the stacker S forming storage piles, or secondary sourcesof supply I.

From-the foregoing description, it will be obvious that by reason of theunit conveyer construction, the 'positionof the stacker S may becontrolled at will so as to deposit material adjacent the main conveyer6 when only a single unit is employed, or at a considerable distancetherefrom when a plural ity of units are utilized. As clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the unit conveyers 24 may be positioned and kept onsidings 32 from which they may be easily run onto the transfer table Tand moved to a position in which they will cooperate with the mainconveyer.

By employing a shuttle conveyer, the material supplied by themainconveyer may be delivered to a unit conveyer not located on the transfertable as indicated inFig. 4 even though the transfer table carries aspare 16, although in actual practice the con-v veyers in assembledrelation occupy such positions that comparatively little space existstherebetween. v

In still other cases it is desirable to employ a stacker S, fullyillustrated in Figs.

10 and 11, which is self-contained and movable as a unit from place toplace. This stacker comprises a framework 34 traveling on the wheels 35and carrying a conveyer belt 36 driven by the motor 37 The maindifference between this construction, and that disclosed in Fig. 6resides in the employment of a conveyer 36 which is independent of anyother conveyer belt, but

which is adapted to cooperate therewith for receiving materials. Forexample, a unit conveyer 24 may supply material thereto through thehopper 29 positioned adjacent the lower end of the frame 34. At itsupper end, the conveyer 36 discharges through a hopper 38 and out1et39to the stacker S pivotallysupported on the trunnions 40 carried b therotatable or turntable construction 4i carried by the truck 42. Thetruck 42, as is the case with the other trucksem- I ployed throughout myapparatus is preferably driven by a motor 44 so that the stacker may bemoved to storing position. Angular adjustment of the stacLer is obtainedby the motor 45 driving the pinion 46 cooperating with a segmental rackgear 47. Due to the turntable support for the stacker it is easily swungor adjusted laterally, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10. Theself-contained construction rendering the entire stacker and trippereasily portable is highly advantageous in that the necessity ofemploying a separate tripper and stacker for each belt is overcome.

After the material has been stored in piles or warehouses P, it may bereadily reclaimed by employing a reclaimer R, which may be constructedin accordance with any of the forms disclosed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 201,798 filed Nov. 13, 1917. As herein shown,the reclaimer comprises a reclaiming digger 48 elevating material to theboom conveyer 49 having one end supported in coiiperative relation withthe hopper 50 mounted on the adjustable truck 51. The truck 51 ispreferably mounted to discharge-to a unit conveyer'24 of the typedescribed delivering through the connecting hopper 29 to a stacker orloading trimmer S adapted to deliver either to the cars C or to theconveyer 52, which may in turn load either the barges B or the vessel Vthrough the trimmer 54, which may be constructed as disclosed either inmy Patent No. 1,207,237, of December 5, 1916, or No. 1,231,449, of-

June 26, 1917. In Fig. 7, the discharging end of the reclaiming conveyeris shown in detail, together with the motor 55 for driving the same, andthe motor 56 for producing longitudinal adjustment of the truck 51through the driving belt 57 and its associated mechanism.

In some cases I may employ a modified mounting for the reclaimer 49.Such a modification is illustrated in Fig. 6 in which the truck 51 isillustrated as being carried by the transfer t-ableoT in cotiperativerelation with one of the unit conveyers 24. Such a constructionpermits'the rapid positioning of a unit conveyer by reason of the pitconstruction 30.

In like manner, the stacker S may be mounted on the transfer table, asshown diagrammatically in Fig. 9.

By employing self-contained unit conveyers, and self-contained trimmersand stackers which may be easily moved from one point to another, anexpeditious and economical handling of material is effected. Any meansmay be employed, if desired, for interconnecting the unitconveyers,although such a construction is not necessary, by reason ofthe fact that each conveyer may be independently moved to its finalposition.

19, .1918, No.- 223,302, I have shown and claimed the construction ofthe stacker hereinbefore described and in said application I matter.

In my application for Patent No. 233,514,

filed May 4, 1918, I have-shown, described and claimed certainimprovements in unit conveyers of the general kind shown in theaccompanying drawings and I do not herein claim the particularconstruction of unit conveyer hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A system-forstoring material, comprising truck-supported unit conveyers, a track onwhich they are stored, a truck-supported transfer table provided withmeans for receiving and supporting the unit conveyers, a conveyer beltwhich receives material to be stored, a tripper cooperating with saidbelt and movable with the transfer table, means for conveying thematerial from the tripper to a unit conveyer, and means for deliverlngmaterial from the unit conveyer.-

2. A system for storing material, comprising truck-supported unitconveyers, a track on which they are stored, a truck-supported transfertable provided with means for receiving and supporting the unitconveyers, a conveyer belt which receives material to be stored, atripper cotiperatin withsaid belt and movable with the trans er table,means for conveying the material from the tripper to a unit conveyercarried by the transfer table, and means for delivering material fromthe unit conveyer.

3. A system for storing material, comprising truck-supported unitconveyers, a track on which they are stored, a truck-supported transfertable provided with means for receiving and supporting the unitconveyers, a conveyer belt which receives ma terial to be stored, atruck-supported tripper connected to and movable with the transfer tableand cooperating with said belt confor discharging material from the unitconveyer.

4. A system for storing mater1a1, comprising truck-supported uniteonveyers, a track onwhich they are stored, a truck-supported transfertable providedwith means for receiving and supporting'the unit contrackon which they are stored, a truck-suported transfer table provided withmeans 6. .A system for storing material, comprising trnck-supported unitconveyers, a track on which they are stored,a truck-supported transfertable provided with means for receiving and deliverin to'the unit conveyers, a conveyer belt w ich receives material to be stored, a trippercooperating with said belt and movable with the transfer table, ashuttle conveyer on the transfer table receiving material from thetripper and delivering to a unit conveyer carried by the transfertable,and means for discharging from the unit conveyer.

7. A truck-supported transfer table provided with a shuttle conveyer andmeans below the shuttle conveyer for supporting a unit conveyer. 1 v

8. A transfer table provided on its upper portion with an extensible orshuttle conveyer, a track below the shuttle conveyer for or receivingand supporting the unit conveyers, a conveyer belt which receivesmaterial to be stored, a tripper cooperating with said belt and movablewith the transfer table, a shuttle conveyer on the transfer tablereceiving material from the tripper and delivering to a unit conveyer,and means f for discharging from the unit conveyer.

supporting a unit conveyer, and another track on the transfer table forsupporting a reclaimer or a stacker.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANCIS LEE srnr

